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Hunt 'genuinely in the frame' for Wallabies: Cheika

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Karmichael Hunt is ‘genuinely in the frame’ for a Test debut in June.

Though he was still keeping his cards close to his chest as to whether the former NRL and AFL star would overtake Israel Folau as first-choice fullback, the Wallabies coach said Hunt had gone from cross-code curiosity to serious Test chance.

“Hunt has improved out of sight this year,” he said on FOX SPORTS' Kick and Chase.

“The energy he’s put into the game, just his aggression and his attitude has been quite inspiring for the other fellas who have been playing alongside him and he has really put himself into the frame, more than.

“We had him there or thereabouts just to have a look at him but now he’s genuinely in the frame.”

He’s not the only uncapped Queenslander Cheika is looking at, though, with Campbell Magnay and Izaia Perece handful of their rookies in his sights as well.

Perese would be long odds to make his debut in June, though, given his release for the Australia U20s World Championship in Georgia, which overlaps with the Tests.

“I’m very keen to see Campbell Magnay - he’s a big lad, he’s got good qualities around his attack and his defence, Izaia perese has been outstanding for the Reds, he’s off to the 20s now and then you’ve also got Andrew Kellaway who’s been out of sorts but brought on tour and he’s a player we’ve got high hopes for as well."

Cheika also gave a ringing endorsement to Western Force no. 8 Richard Hardwick.